Justice
The Social Ties Urban Refugees Need
To make a good life in a new city, recent research stresses that refugees must connect with those outside their national or ethnic group.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the world is currently experiencing the highest level of displacement on record: 65.6 million people have been forced from their homes, with nearly 22.5 million of them refugees. A significant share of them seek shelter in cities, particularly in the Global South.
This urban demographic is on the rise, and faces particular challenges. While refugees in camps receive direct assistance from domestic and international aid organizations, those in cities are left to fend for themselves. They must secure their own food, shelter, and employment, often in areas where services are lacking even for the host population. They habitually go days without a meal and face insecure housing.